Last night, bartenders and imbibers from around Boston gathered at Drink to celebrate renowned cocktail maker Dale DeGroff’s latest book, The Essential Cocktail. Small samples of Manhattans (made with rye whiskey or bourbon) and Cosmopolitans flowed freely as DeGroff worked the room.

Before we sampled one to many of his libations, we talked to DeGroff about what he recommends you serve guests this holiday season.

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When Bob’s Southern Bistro vacated its Columbus Ave. digs in 2007, I’ll admit I mourned the loss. Sure, owner Darryl Settles went on to give us the Beehive, but, having lived around the corner from the former boite, I’d miss Bob’s casual attitude—and its fried chicken.

A year later, the spot’s been resurrected as Circle Plates and Lounge, a spot featuring “fine dining at comfort-food prices,” according to owner Malcolm Aalders. And while it lacks the come-as-you-are vibe of Bob’s, owner Aalders and GM John Williams have ushered in something else: really good food for a pretty low sum.

And with that, I’m coming around. (more…)

As the old adage goes, you eat with your eyes first. Chowder believes this doesn’t just apply to the dish before you, but also the ambiance. Some interior designs enhance the theme—take Redbones as an example—but even if a strategically placed set of lights does nothing for our seared tuna, we don’t have many deal-breakers.

But we did discover one the other night while grabbing a drink at Max and Dylan’s. We call her Berry Thong.

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Chowder may be talking turkey a lot these days, but one meat is our always-and-forever, and that’s pork. And while we’re all about the booming “snout to tail” movement, which puts everything from guanciale (smoked pig cheeks) and boudin blanc (an intestinal-looking pork sausage) to whole suckling pig on local menus, our first love is a big, honkin’ plate of falling-apart ribs.

Alas, this is New England, not Dixie. And while we’re blessed with a couple of standouts (Blue Ribbon, the Best of Boston winner, Redbones, and Poppa B’s), the pickings are still pretty slim. So I’m always stoked (sorry) when a new pit-smoked BBQ joint comes to town, and on Saturday night I finally made my way back over to Washington Square’s Roadhouse. (more…)

As everyone around me knows, I’ll soon be leaving my current digs in JP and moving across the city. And it’s starting to stress me out a little—not just the idea of packing and hauling all my stuff, but the fact that I still have a lot of eating to do before I go.

While I won’t miss that chicken smell, I’ll be leaving behind plenty of Chowder faves: Canto 6, Ula Cafe, City Feed, Bella Luna (which has a newish chef, Jacob Zachow) the Behan pub, etc.

And, of course, there’s the Alchemist. (more…)

It’s safe to say that Boston chefs are ingredient-obsessed. You hear about mozzarella di bufala being flown in twice a week from Italy, sushi so fresh it was swimming yesterday, and farmstand veggies just plucked from the dirt.

Boston bartenders, too, have gotten in on the act. With the return of classic cocktails, everything’s fresh-squeezed and muddled to order. (Frankly, methinks most club-type bartenders are sick to death of making mojitos.)

But Drink, uber-chef Barbara Lynch’s new cocktail-centric venture in Fort Point Channel, is taking things to a whole other level: they’re busting out the gourmet ice. (more…)

Considering the fact that we end up at the same eating and drinking establishments time and time again (see: Eastern Standard, Toro)—we at Chowder are always looking for the next great place to imbibe, preferably within walking distance (or an under-$7 cab ride) from our Back Bay office. So last week was a boon to us, as we got not one, but two new places to throw back a cocktail and some grub. (Well, one’s a chain and the other’s a renovation, but whatever. We’ll take it.)

First up: the new Sel de La Terre at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. (more…)

I stopped by Craigie on Main—the future (bigger, fancier) Central Square home of Craigie Street Bistrot in the former La Groceria space—on my way to work this morning. Or, rather, I stopped by the work site that will become Craigie on Main in about seven weeks. Tony Maws was there, going over plans, and he gave me a quick tour.

If you’ve eaten at Craigie, you know how tiny that space is, and how subterranean. If you’ve ever seen the kitchen (my closet is bigger), you’ll understand why people talk about it in terms of lemons and lemonade. Nevertheless, I’ve always enjoyed Craigie’s coziness, and felt a twinge of nostalgic regret when I first heard about the move.

But having seen the new place, I’m counting down the weeks.

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With all of this summer’s restaurant events and openings, it’s safe to say that I could use a little exercise. So this weekend, my s.o. and I grabbed our bikes and headed to Provincetown by ferry for a car-free Cape weekend. (The goal: Burn calories, not gas.)

Of course, working up a sweat and gorging ourselves on the town’s best eats are not mutually exclusive endeavors. (more…)

Most eateries are hosting Restaurant Week until August 22, so you know where to go for eats. But if it’s cocktails you’re lushing lusting for, then you can count on us to refill your calendar.

Sundays, 3-10 p.m.
Sangria Summer Sundays
Zócalo Cocina Mexicana, Brighton
Sangria is like your blood, the supply should be constantly flowing. To the rescue with a steady stream is Zócalo’s summer sangria flight, three glasses of the fruit-addled wine libation for $12. The August selection: blood orange, pomegranate, and mango.

Aug. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Riesling Night
Boston Wine School
We love a sweet riesling, except when we like a dry one. Join Boston Wine School as they showcase the entire spectrum of this chameleon grape with refreshing wines from vineyards in Germany, California, Washington, Australia, and New Zealand.

Mojito Mondays
RumBa, InterContinental Hotel, 6-7 p.m.
They’ll teach you how to make the drink, but don’t expect a pass behind the bar. Every Monday evening, RumBa, the InterContinental’s rum and champagne bar, hosts mojito making classes sponsored by Bacardi.

Every day through September
Sushi and Sake Flight Special
Fugakyu
Looks like someone wants to make sure you’re eating while you’re drinking. For the months of August and September, the Coolidge Corner Japanese restaurant offers a flight special which pairs three sakes with five pieces of nigiri (that’s the one with the rice) sushi.

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